Radiology nurses care for patients in a hospital or other medical setting’s radiology department. The radiology nurse administers medications, assists in examinations, assists in developing a patient care plan, collects data, maintains records, checks intravenous fluids (IVs), assists in sedating patients, and monitors patients’ vital signs while following the radiologist’s instructions. Radiology nurses may be involved in educating patients’ families or their health-care colleagues about nursing policy or national nursing standards of care on occasion.
The radiology nurse works with medical equipment that is used to make diagnoses on a regular basis. The radiology nurse, for example, is typically trained to assist with ultrasound, nuclear medicine, angiography, sonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopy nursing care. Radiology nurses must be able to analyze and make quick but accurate decisions as part of the diagnostic process.
Radiology nurses can start with an associate’s degree in nursing, but many people who want to be radiology nurses start with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In addition, the nurse must pass the Registered Nurse National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). After several years of experience, the nurse is usually certified in radiology nursing. After passing an exam, you can become a Certified Radiological Nurse (CRN) through the Association for Radiological and Imaging Nursing (ARIN).
It’s not unusual for radiology nurses to hold a master’s degree. Advanced practice radiology nurses, for example, frequently hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in order to gain a deeper understanding of radiology nursing and better serve their patients. Furthermore, some radiology nurses pursue a doctorate in nursing so that they can work not only with patients but also as college professors.
It’s worth noting that the radiology nurse does more than just provide medical care. While the patient is undergoing treatment, the radiology nurse serves as an emotional support for the patient and his or her family. This can be difficult because the family often has a lot of questions during the patient’s treatment. Radiology nurses frequently assuage patients’ treatment fears and assist families in understanding the treatments that their loved ones are receiving. As a result, being a radiology nurse is a difficult job that necessitates not only medical knowledge but also excellent social skills.